Seeds of Wisdom

SHOUT FOR JOY

Psalm 35:27 – "May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.”

There is so much that militates against our praising of the Lord, whether the busyness of life, heartache, depression, trials, or simply distractions. The psalmist commands us to “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth” (Psalm 100:1). We are not to do this simply out of willpower or guilt. The psalmist teaches us that the reason we are to praise God amid all that we experience is because of who He is. Our praise is to be rooted in and motivated by the very character of God as seen supremely in the life of Jesus Christ.

Many have lost their shout for joy to God, they shout for sporting events and other events, but they are quiet in church. The Psalmist instructs us in Psalm 5:11 “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”

The Israelites understood the power of a great shout of joy. 1 Samuel 4:5 states that “And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.” Today you and I are the Ark of the Covenant, we host our Lord. He dwells in us and we are His temple! Alleluia! The Bible records that their shout was so great that ‘the earth rang again’. Would you let out a shout of joy today that would shake the unshakeable and frighten the kingdom of darkness?

Further Reading: Psalm 47, Ezra 3:11-13, Psalm 100, Joshua 6:1-21

Prayer: Lord, I shout for joy at your marvellous works in my life.